The purpose of this dissertation is twofold-to investigate, in brief, the available guides to Russian lyric diction and to present my own comprehensive guide, which gives singers the tools to prepare the pronunciation of Russian vocal pieces independently. The survey examines four guides to Russian lyric diction found in popular anthologies or…

There is a long history of debate over what opera is. Since it's more or less formal beginning in the sixteenth century as a reconstruction of ancient drama, opera as an art form has been controversial. The received understanding--emphasized by the genre's founders and in periodic efforts at reforming the standards of composition and…

This is the sixth in a series of technical research reports by the Harvard Project Zero which study artistic creation and comprehension as a means toward better art education. (See related documents SO 008 705 to 008 709.) This paper examines the ways in which music can refer in various ways to itself or to extramusical things. It outlines the…